Nutcracker 2005 Photo Gallery by Richard Calmes at pbase.com

Nutcracker 2005

These photos were made during performances of The Nutcracker at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center. These dancers take their performances seriously and when not actually "on stage" are in the wings watching, waiting their turn, and supporting their fellow dancers in many ways. I tried to capture some of that spirit with these photographs. I used a Canon 70-200 f2.8L with image stabilization. There is definitely no place for a tripod or monopod as dancers, props, and crew are in constant motion, and I had to constantly jump this way or that to stay out of the way, so image stabilization was critical. If you would like to see more behind the scenes activity, click here: https://pbase.com/rcalmes/studio_rehearsal

To see what some very talented artists have done with some of these images, see http://www.innographx.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5182&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

If you believe this gallery has merit, please vote so others may see it.

Best Friends	The Rosin Box	_MG_0742	_MG_0717 new
_MG_0963	_MG_0728	The Fog Machine	_MG_0459 new
Jody and Sara	_MG_0909	_MG_0722	_MG_0992
_MG_0920	Angel and the Rosin Box	_MG_1008 new	Fastening the Costume
_MG_0939	_MG_0959	_MG_0953	_MG_0965
_MG_0975	_MG_0988 new	_MG_0999	_MG_1004
_MG_0962	_MG_0933	_MG_0947	_MG_0969
_MG_0983	_MG_0984	_MG_0715 new	_MG_0942 new

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Pink*Fin		22-Nov-2012 17:19
This is a wonderful collection of the classic ballet. This has brought back memories for me..ones I will re-live with my daughter! A pretty, charming gallery. A little girls dream!

kayla		14-Jan-2007 22:32
wow. gorgeous pictures, im a dancers from moncotn new brunswick.. and these pictures are absolutly stunning!

Guest		07-Sep-2006 22:38
I don't know how many times I've, during the last months, returned to see this absolutely wonderful gallery ! It contains some of the finest pictures I've ever seen !! V. Espen.

Chelsea		26-Jun-2006 01:56
I love the backstage gallery. You really captured the moment and I felt there. The lighting was absolutly great. I hope you do some new ones because I look at these pictures everyday. Thanks for the eye candy.

Guest		08-Jun-2006 17:08
Wonderful gallery. The lighting is great. You really did a good job at capturing the atmosphere.

Guest		07-Jun-2006 09:52
This is a fantastic gallery. Gets my vote.

henrywong		05-Jun-2006 05:02
Outstanding images !

lorand		04-Jun-2006 09:16
Your gallery is beautiful....what a wonderful tribute!!! My vote!

Bill Taylor		01-Jun-2006 00:23
Excellent dance pictures. Good Work !

Beth		27-May-2006 03:48
great concept,;ovely colors,and great job.I love it!

kyoung kim photography		09-May-2006 08:23
nice work.

Guest		13-Mar-2006 04:54
Richard, Really nice work. I do some theatre photography but most of it is to document my work as a scenic and lighting designer. Some of these are really exceptional and I applaud your work. Davy

Kees Terberg		09-Mar-2006 23:33
It is a pity that the guest did not leave a name but I second the idea to have a book published. Please add me to the list of people who would like to purchase a copy. This is a great series but in all honesty, I believe that the monochrome series does more for me. The colours here are beautiful but the classic monochrome choice is one that goes hand in hand with the classic art of dance. These images too would suit well for the monochromatic format. Hehehe, from a publishing point of view it would also be cheaper to get it printed in B/W. That said, these are really legendary images that will bring you to fame. Look at me, I live on a small rock across the atlantic and your name has already become a household name at our club. I use the same lens and must admit that it is a fantastic one. Equipment may be essential but without the eye of the artist, most of these shots would have remained "behind the scenes". Thank you very much for sharing these moments with us.

el amigo		18-Feb-2006 03:13
Very nice galery

Guest		17-Feb-2006 22:34
You should publish a book with these, excellent work.

An� Strydom		01-Feb-2006 16:24
Wow! Ir's great. love it, very inspiring!

DaoDang		27-Jan-2006 01:00
Absolutely inspiring and beautiful. Learn a lot on composition and lighting by studying this gallery. Thanks.

Valery Titievsky		17-Jan-2006 17:39
Fantastic images! Very nice galleies! My Vote!

Patrick DEBETENCOURT		17-Jan-2006 11:16
Being back once again, feel the same pleasure at each time ! Great shots Richard appreciated by everybody entering this gallery including your models ! I wish you an happy new year full of wonderful pictures. Patrick

lorin niculae		16-Jan-2006 12:15
one of the most sensitive and touching galleries I've seen, about a field I know rather well. Your view is true, accurate, a priceless " view from inside".VOTED!

Rebecca		11-Jan-2006 00:57
Hey Mr. Colmes it's me, Rebecca. Your work reall shows us off. I love it. I can just look at those pictures and see the emotion we had a month or so ago while we watched and waited in anticipation during this tiring and hectic season. Bravo! P.S. I really love the one with Aron and Nicole as they wait for the Waltz of the Flowers to start. They look almost speechless as they're probably watching one of the varitations. ^_^

Rick Lewis		10-Jan-2006 07:03
I've done a little backstage and performace work and know how difficult it is. This is an example of excellence in this type of work and deserves to be held as a standard. Outstanding. I hope the performers and all involved can appreciate the compliment you have paid, through your art, to them and their dedication to their art. Beautiful.

cinnamonhrts		10-Jan-2006 05:11
Absolutely beautiful to look at.

Guest		09-Jan-2006 21:11
Fine work...DD

Guest		09-Jan-2006 18:40
Excellent gallery, you are master. Cant imagine a backstage could provide such interesting subjects. Voted

Guest		09-Jan-2006 10:14
Astonshing images with great expressions and emotions. Thanks for sharing these!

Derek M John		08-Jan-2006 09:21
A great gallery here, the lighting is supberb. Looked on with envious eyes! Voted

Guest		08-Jan-2006 04:50
In contrast to its delicate content...kick ass richard!

Hodero		06-Jan-2006 21:38
Had to come back and vote for every individual pic as well.You absolutely deserve a nr. ONE place in the popular Gallery!!! good luck.. "H"

Jeanne Newman		05-Jan-2006 20:52
A magical, painterly gallery - beautifully shot and processed. Bravo!

Guest		05-Jan-2006 16:51
Excellent work in very testing lighting conditions - great atmosphere. Thank you so much for giving a glimpse of a world most of us never see, it’s very insightful. I’ve only seen one ballet, Swan Lake and have been keen to see The Nutcraker as so many people suggest it should be the first ballet you see. I’m now even more keen on seeing it.

Guest		04-Jan-2006 15:49
Beautiful pics Richard, congratulations.

Tom Sherry		04-Jan-2006 01:13
Fantastic candids. Thanks for taking me backstage with you.

Christina Craft		03-Jan-2006 23:59
You have captured some truly magical moments. My vote and all the best for the New Year! P.S. you've convinced me about the merits of stabilization. :)

Ted Levin		03-Jan-2006 17:59
Love everything about this gallery. I feel like I'm there

Guest		02-Jan-2006 20:36
very very nice indeed, voted.

Wendy		02-Jan-2006 04:09
Very special gallery. You have certainly captured the emotion of the performers. Lighting etc exceptional. Regards, Wendy

Guest		01-Jan-2006 17:52
All I can say is just WOW! Great photos! The lighting is amazing! You make the viewer feel as though they are standing back stage waiting to perform.

Guest		01-Jan-2006 16:23
Looks like we share the same passion. Nice gallery !!! http://www.pbase.com/tinydancerusa/gallery_9 http://www.pbase.com/tinydancerusa/gallery_5

Guest		31-Dec-2005 17:36
Nice Picture ,Beautiful Gallery Regard Francis and Happyhttp://www.pbase.com/franzschwaller/image/54187814

Guest		31-Dec-2005 16:39
Great gallery. Really beautiful!

Guest		30-Dec-2005 21:35
Absolutely stunning !

BlueSteelPhoto		30-Dec-2005 19:39
It is a delightful side-step from the mainstream dance, and a side of it that I have not seen in this incredible display of images. I love the emotion, and feelings each image instills. I remember something a photographer once said to me. When you see a flower, you photograph the flower, the true photographer is spending his time wondering what is around the flower. This is a great set of "around the flower" images.. Voted most definitely.

Reflections by Ruth		30-Dec-2005 15:08
Horray!! it made the most popular on the front page :) so professionally done, you handle the lighting quite well

Thomas		30-Dec-2005 01:18
Very nice stuff Richard.

Gilles Navet		29-Dec-2005 16:17
Great gallery Richard I can feel the vibes and emotion of performers ! I lke you play with light, allways well compose scene "true" and life pic GMV too for tha journalistic and esthétic work Gilles

Gayle P. Clement		29-Dec-2005 02:17
Beautifully photographed. The lighting and poses of some of these remind me of the Old Masters.

Guest		28-Dec-2005 19:58
A wonderful documentary gallery!

Simon Barnsley		28-Dec-2005 15:20
If Degas had a camera, this is what he would have tried to do. You've pulled it off perfectly!

Robert Dupuis		27-Dec-2005 21:59
Very nices picture, I love... Robert

dawn		27-Dec-2005 20:40
great collection of photos here Richard!

Bill Creech		26-Dec-2005 17:31
Richard, You list the 70-200 f2.8 IS lens and you make great use of the lens for handheld photography where tripods would not work. I also see 35mm f2.8 for some of your photographs, what lens are you using there? Do you use any other methods for these great pictures? Monopod, brace against a wall or pole, beanpod, etc? Or all handheld? If so very steady. Great pictures. Cheers, Bill

Bob Floyd		26-Dec-2005 02:24
Great stuff Richard. I love this type of thing. I spent years working in the Theater (did my share of Nutcrackers at Christmas) but never had a chance to combine the two passions and shoot backstage. You have done an excellent job with this one!

Guest		25-Dec-2005 22:10
Love this art! Full emotion in low light. Compliments Miel

Bill Creech		25-Dec-2005 00:19
I love available light performance photography and these are great! Bill

Guest		24-Dec-2005 23:56
Very nicely done.

...duncan		23-Dec-2005 21:51
Excellent gallery. Each shot is wonderful. Everything is there and perfect. V

Ron Horloff		23-Dec-2005 18:36
This is a really beautifully done gallery. Ron

ac		22-Dec-2005 18:32
Interesting gallery Richard, tfs.

Yi Feng		22-Dec-2005 18:26
Great shots.

Kevin Chan		22-Dec-2005 18:09
beautiful work, beautiful lighting

Mertxe Pasamontes		21-Dec-2005 11:05
Wonderful gallery' I like very much

Donald Verger		21-Dec-2005 00:27
wonderful, a treat, and intimate! we all like to see backstage... thanks! don vote!!!

Neil H		20-Dec-2005 01:47
I have not looked at all your galleries, but this is amazing. You must have a very steady hand or a support to get the sharpness that you do at 1/30 th of a second. Great lighting/exposure and composition. Neil

Hodero		19-Dec-2005 17:03
You are a fortunate man to be able to shoot backstage....Some really beautiful shots here. I love the fact that you don't use flash .Makes it soo much more natural .

Saskia		18-Dec-2005 12:01
Thanks for letting me know there are news pics. I love them all. These backstage shots are even nicer than actual ballet photos, to see what's happening through the backstage eyes is much more exciting ;-) And of course the lighting is just perfect. Thank you so much for sharing.

Reflections by Ruth		18-Dec-2005 01:15
I like :) voted you are quite good with the lighting

Saskia		16-Dec-2005 22:28
I love this backstage gallery! Hope there will be a lot more to come...

Guest		14-Dec-2005 18:12
Wonderful, Richard. Degas would have approved. How can one not fall instantly and unqualified in love with these folks? Voted, of course. Ells

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